Cholesterol and a Healthy Lifestyle

For most people the mention of the word “Cholesterol” means only trouble. Cholesterol is meant to help the body function well. It plays critical roles in digestion of fats, hormone production and cell walls building. However, too much of it does lead to health problems like heart attacks and stroke. When in excess, this can damage the arteries leading to heart-related problems.

A huge number of the population suffers from high blood cholesterol. Some of these people don’t even know their blood cholesterol state. It is best for people, with or without elevated blood cholesterol family history to test their cholesterol levels regularly to avoid heart problems.

Types of Cholesterol

There is the “good” cholesterol referred to as high-density lipoprotein or HDL. HDL keeps the cholesterol from building up in the arteries by carrying it to the liver for elimination. The “bad” cholesterol is known as Low-density lipoprotein or LDL. LDL causes cholesterol blockage in the arteries by cholesterol being carried into the blood. We therefore need enough HDL and low LDL to maintain a healthy heart .

Ideal blood cholesterol is total of less than 200 mg/dL or LDL of lower than 130 mg/dL. Above desirable/ borderline cholesterol is when the total cholesterol level is between 200 and 239 mg/dL or LDL is 130 to 159 mg/dL. The high and most dangerous level of blood cholesterol is when total level is greater than 240 mg/dL or LDL is 160 mg/dL or higher. An HDL level less than 35 mg/dL is unhealthily low.

Sources of High Blood Cholesterol

The diet plays a major role in leading to high blood cholesterol levels. Eating too much of saturated fat and cholesterol raises cholesterol. Cholesterol is found only in animal products and saturated fats are mainly found in animal products.

Some people get high cholesterol from their genes. All the more reason one should test more often when they have a family history of cholesterol. The other factor affecting one’s blood cholesterol level is the age. The older people get, the more their chances of high blood cholesterol. Women who are going through menopause often get high LDL cholesterol.

Overweight people also tend to get high levels of blood cholesterol . Like most sicknesses, losing weight and maintaining a healthy weight is the number one solution to this condition. Exercise also has a positive effect on cholesterol. Regular exercise lowers LDL and increases HDL. Now that sounds more like magic. The best would be to exercise even before getting high levels of cholesterol in order to prevent it. Smoking is also bad for your heart.

Natural Treatment for High Blood Cholesterol

The first treatment is to look at your lifestyle and habits. Lose the cigarette, work on your diet, reduce your animal fat intake, increase fibre amounts in your diet, dump the couch, start an enjoyable exercise routine, lose weight, get the cholesterol test regularly and keep your heart healthy. That’s not so difficult but it needs commitment. Please visit our healthy diet page for a happy heart diet.

The key is to follow your own programme, not any one’s. Use the tools available and design your own exercise routine according to your schedule and what you enjoy. Walk more, garden, play, dance and enjoy any movement you choose to do. Involve your family, partner, kids, friends or siblings and fight this together. You may choose to form your own support group, follow your individual healthy programmes and report to each other on the progress from each cholesterol test. The cholesterol test is easily done in the pharmacies. Go and take one if you haven’t done that in a while. Cholesterol is very manageable through lifestyle change alone.

There are extreme cases whereby some drugs are needed to reduce cholesterol. Please see your doctor whenever your levels are higher than acceptable. Even better lead a healthy lifestyle and prevent cholesterol and heart problems.

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